Sales fell 2.7% versus a year ago, a much sharper decline than the 0.6% rate expected by markets.

It ends two months of rising sales during which the Japanese economy appeared to be returning to normality after the natural disaster in March.

Thomas Cook has said bookings by its UK customers were "flat" during the summer holiday season, but that its full-year profits should be "broadly in line with market expectations".

In a trading statement, the travel company also said it was continuing to be affected by the political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa.

However, its sales in northern Europe, including Germany, were up strongly.

In the latest edition of Business Daily from the BBC World Service looks at the two extremes of the world food industry - the vast companies that control global food supplies and the people who do not have enough food.